The 25th anniversary celebration began with a new work by Roger Nichols, Xanthos Overture.

Although the composer cited Turkey and the Mediterranean as inspirational sources, it was the enjoyable echoes of Janacek which dominated the musical discourse.

The playing was fine, but a second reading would - as ever - be more rewarding. Not true of the Saint-Saens Organ Symphony, where the playing was universally excellent. Conductor Simon Wright judged the acoustic impeccably: the orchestral balance was spot on, allowing the individual motifs and instrumental contributions of the first movement to flower.

There was so much to admire about this performance, such as the bristling rhythmic energy of the third movement, and the triumphant finale with founding member John Hastie's resounding organ affirmations, but it was the beautiful, hushed transition to a delicious second movement which stayed in the memory.

The question for the second half was how would the massive forces - large orchestra, baritone soloist, and a choir (the impressive Leeds Festival & Leeds Philharmonic Choruses) large enough to fill a stand at Bootham Crescent - for a performance of William Walton's masterpiece, Belshazzar's Feast, survive in this most resonant of acoustics?

Brilliantly was the answer. This was in no small part due to the quality of the singing where a 'staccato' articulation ensured clarity of text in the loud passages, a commanding contribution from baritone Paul Whelan and superlative orchestral playing.

But it was Simon Wright, at times whipping up the orchestra into an almost indecent excitement towards the conclusion, who ultimately articulated, dominated and delivered.

Updated: 11:07 Monday, May 16, 2005